Toshiba Gigabeat MEG-F40S 40 GB Digital Audio Player Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I first saw the Gigabeat at CES this year and I've been waiting for it since then. I finally got my hands on the F40 a couple a weeks ago and I wasn't disappointed. By the time it shipped here in the US Toshiba applied firmware 2.02 which lets you view slide shows of your favorite photos while playing music.
The good:
- The screen is no doubt the best in its class.
- The touch sensitive cross is very intuitive, much more so than the wheel on the iPod. The Gigabeat can be operated in horizontal mode, my favorite, and the cross is designed perfectly for this. Due to its design switching from vertical to horizontal mode requires no change in how you navigate.
- Setting the EQ to flat will give you crystal clear and a very detailed sound experience, and the volume has more power than I can handle.
- You can preset volume and EQ settings per song in the Gigabeat Room program
- You can browse music by Artist/Album/Genre, but also by folders like Explorer.
- No need for the cradle if you transfer music via Gigabeat Room, or without Room if you use the Gigabeat as external HD using drag and drop.
- Rip Tech button on the cradle will rip an entire CD and transfer it to your Gigabeat in 5 minutes.
- Works with all Play For Sure online music services.
The bad:
- SAT encryption on anything you transfer via Gigabeat Room or Windows Media Player. You can get around it by using drag and drop while connected in Windows Media Mode and using the cradle. Instead of using WMP you just drag and drop your music onto the Gigabeat. Gigabeat will recognize ID3 information and catalog your music when you drag and drop this way.
- USB 1.1 speed when using any other way then Gigabeat Room to transfer music to the Gigabeat.
- EQ quality is not as good as it could be. However with the EQ set to flat everything I have tried sounds great!
- No video... yet.
I REALY like the Gigabeat. I have recommended it to all my friends and I got a second one for my wife. "The bad" can all be fixed with a firmware upgrade, and I'm hoping that Toshiba is listening to all Gigabeat enthusiasts. I belive that hardware wise the Gigabeat is perfect. All that now is needed is some fine tuning on the EQ and to get rid of the SAT encryption.
Lots of information about the Gigabeat can be found over at www.mygigabeat.com. The forum is an excellent way to get most of your questions answered.

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Images and music combine in this easy-to-use portable digital audio player. Toshiba's snazzy, silver Gigabeat MEG-F40S packs a 1.8-inch Toshiba hard drive capable of holding an incredible 40 GB of digital media: MP3 and WMA compressed audio and even uncompressed, full-resolution WAV files. That's about 10,000 songs (more than 600 complete albums) at 128 kbps MP3, a crazy 20,000 songs at 64 kbps WMA, and a still-impressive 1,100 songs or 75 hours of CD-resolution WAV files.A major feature of the player is its bright, crystal-clear, 2.2-inch LCD with 240 x 320 resolution and the ability to render over 65,000 colors. It's there so you can experience the visual as well as the aural component of your entertainment. The Gigabeat lets you download and view album covers, search for your favorite tracks by scrolling through those album covers, or even set a favorite album cover as your background image. You can download any digital still picture from your PC and create custom slideshows, too--and set them to music.Gigabeat may be versatile, but it's also easy to operate. Its PlusTouch sensor control lets you scroll through its intuitive menus using only a soft touch or pass of your fingertip.The PC-only Gigabeat is "Plays for Sure"-certified by Microsoft, which means that it will operate with any "Plays for Sure" download site or management software when connected to your PC. Gigabeat is automatically recognized by Windows Media Player 10, so there's no need to install new drivers of any kind. Toshiba has also partnered with Napster to provide Napster's "Napster To Go" software, giving you the option of using Napster To Go, Windows Media Player, and/or the supplied Gigabeat Room management software (Gigabeat Room is required for transfer of photo images).So what about your CD collection? After all, you'll likely be able to stash the entire thing in here, one way or another. Thanks to a unique feature called CD RipRec, all you have to do is place a CD in your PC and press the CD RipRec button while the Gigabeat is docked in its cradle. CD RipRec will launch the software and transfer compressed audio to your Gigabeat quickly and with no further effort on your part. Using a USB 2.0 connection (cable supplied), CD RipRec can transfer the contents of an entire CD to the Gigabeat in as little as 5 minutes.If Gigabeat's battery life (up to 16 hours) isn't enough to satisfy your entertainment needs, fret not. Rather than carrying your AC adapter everywhere, simply connect the Gigabeat to any PC with a USB cable and the battery will charge itself again.Other features include headphones with an integrated wired remote control, a choice of 10- or 60-second intro scan to help you find a desired song, multilingual support (Japanese, English, French, Chinese, Spanish, and German), and 28 user selectable equalizer settings, and SRS WOW, which simulates surround sound from any two speakers (including headphones).What's in the Box Digital music player, an AC power adapter, a power-supply, a docking cradle, a USB cable, headphones with integrated remote control, a software CD-ROM (Gigabeat Room management software, CD RipRec, Napster To Go), a user's manual, and warranty information.

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SanDisk Sansa c140 1 GB MP3 Player (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The SanDisk Sansa c140 is much smaller and easier to carry than a CD/MP3 player, and that is a plus for traveling. Several reviews below gave a low rating to the player's sound fidelity, but it sounds clear and rich to me on voice or music. My main for purpose for using it is voice Podcasts. I have been using my player for about three weeks.
There are two volume levels in the Settings. The highest volume in the default or low setting is not very high. This means any background noise can easily overshadow what is playing. Changing to the higher level is a distinct help when walking along the street or listening on an airliner.
Several previous reviewers also complained about short battery life. The AAA alkaline battery that came with the unit gave out before its listed time, but it may have been weak from sitting on a shelf. The battery meter in the display does not give any reliable clue as to when the battery will fail. Always carry a spare battery with you, especially if you are using rechargeable batteries. Otherwise, it seems to be a great little unit and I am looking forward to getting a lot of use from it.
The player is easy to use without installing the factory software. As long as "MTP" shows on the screen when connected by cable to the computer, just drag and drop files. It does not matter if files are in a folder or not. The player finds and plays them in alphabetical order. If properly shut down, it remembers where you stopped and begins there the next time the player is used. It will even save your place during a reasonably quick battery change. When a battery fails, the player starts again at the beginning of the file playing when the battery failed.
The PDF manual on the software disc is far more detailed than the printed quick start guide and is worth reading soon after your purchase.
It is not difficult to navigate the menu, but a little practice makes use of the controls much easier. The FM radio feature is nice to have.
The voice recorder works well. Files are stored in the Record folder in the unit's memory. You are supposed to be able to play them on the player, but I had to move them to my computer first. The files appear with a WAV extension on the player, but appear on the computer as MP3 files.The microphone does not produce a loud recording and must be held close to the mouth, making it easy to get a lisp on the recording.
The player will not accept an external memory card, but with 1 GB of internal memory, it is large enough to hold an entire MP3 audio Bible.

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Enjoy skip-free music playback and photo slideshows with the amazingly small and lightweight SanDisk Sansa c140 flash memory digital audio player, which features 1 GB of storage and a 1.2-inch color screen. It offers MP3 and WMA playback and is also compatible with secure PlaysForSure files. It also includes a digital FM tuner (with record function) and a voice recorder (via built-in microphone).
The color LCD screen displays album art from currently playing songs, and can also display photo thumbnails. The digital FM tuner has 20 station presets, and enables you to easily record programming on the fly. It's powered by a single AAA battery, which provides up to 15 hours of continuous play. The 1 GB memory will hold approximately 16 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128 kbps) or 32 hours of WMA tracks (at 64 kbps). It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included) and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.
The SanDisk Sansa c140 digital audio player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
What's in the Box SanDisk Sansa c140, lanyard, headphones, AAA battery, USB cable, QuickStart guide, and installation CD-ROM (with online user guide).

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InterTalk? FM 523 3 Channel Single Unit FM Wireless Home & Office Intercom for 110 Volts Review

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(More customer reviews)This would not work in my office. Probably due to the electrical layout. I had to return it.

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Lacking a unit in your existing system? You can buy this as an add-on. This Plug & Play Power-line intercom unit uses the power-line in the building for transmitting & receiving. Since no Radio Wave is involved, no worry for EMF danger. It is also free from concrete wall and metal construction material obstructions. Power-line Intercom System transmits wherever a wire in the building goes, up to 1500 feet in a straight line measure.

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SanDisk SDMX2-1024 Sansa e140 1 GB Digital Audio Player with SD Expansion Slot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I reduce my stars to three for most people, but four or five for me since I listen to Audible books 90% of the time with the MP3 player.
I really liked what I heard about this player for audiobooks until I saw the review that said that it does not bookmark. I thought so, too, but I discovered all you have to do is press the Play button and it brings you back to where you left it. (see details below of the steps, but they are
1. Turn off while playing
2. Turn on.
3. Press play. Starts where you left off.
Sound
The sound is beautiful. It is the only flash drive player I have found that handles Audible format 4 which is the highest and is comparable to MP3. The next lower is format 3 and is comparable to FM radio. Format 3 is the standard for most. I tried it with NetLibrary audiobooks which is available from a number of public libraries. I had the same problems with the Sansa that I have had with the Creative Muvo (see below) so I think it is the NetLibrary format.
Volume Knob
I did not find the volume knob hard to use when it was out of the case. I have not tried it in the case.
Case
There is a trick to get the player out of the case. It goes into the case top first so the top of the player is at the top of the case. All you have to do is press with a little pressure on the the top of the case - toward the bottom of th case - to ease it out of the bottom of the case.
Display
The elapsed and remaining time digits are WAY, WAY too small.
##############
Additional information on the bookmark. I am beginning to suspect that there are different versions of the firmware on different ones.
Works with Audible Audiobooks
Here is what I am able to do consistently. I have tried in different chapters of a book and in different books.
While listening to an Audible book.
It is playing...
1. Hold the side button until it shuts down ...it will shut down when you hold down the side button for 5 seconds - it counts down with squares on the screen and then when you let up, it shuts off.
2. Press the same button to turn it on.It is now NOT playing, but it DOES show the title of the book and its chapter on the screen.
3. I press Play and it starts exactly where it left off.
Bookmarking Does Not Work with Music
I WAS NOT able to get this or any other form of bookmarks to work with music. This is definitely a screw-up.
Problems Using NetLibrary audiobooks.
I have problems with NetLibrary audiobooks with my Creative Muvo MP3 players as well. These are being used by several public libraries, but not all players - iPods don't work at all - work with their files. The problem I have seen is that files longer than about two hours do not show a longer length or they show as 00:00 in the elapsed time.
Cable Not Proprietary
Another point was made that the cable is "proprietary." The cable is not proprietary. It is a USB 2.0 A-Mini 5-Pin B cable. I didn't think it was proprietary because my Creative n200 has the same cable. To be sure, I bought two different makes and designs (one regular, one retractable) from Radio Shack tonight. They worked with no problems with the Sansa e140.
Does NOT take three to four minutes to start up with card. I have an e140 with a one Gig SD card. I timed it. It takes 10 SECONDS!

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Combining great features and pocket-friendly compactness, SanDisk Sansa digital audio players make it possible to get the most out of your music. Not only is the design great, and the sound quality exceptional, but SanDisk players are also affordable, making it easy to get your groove on wherever you roam.
The Sansa e140 Digital Audio Player features a built-in digital FM tuner you can preset 20 of your favorite radio stations. Even better, in addition to the 1 GB of built-in storage space, you can add up to 2 GB of extra storage space with the included SD slot so you'll have plenty of room for your favorite MP3, Audible, and WMA music.
The Sansa e140's sophisticated, yet simple navigation allows sorting songs by artist, album, song title, genre, year, date loaded, and more. Navigation is made all the more enjoyable with an indigo backlit multi-line LCD, which shows full ID3 tag info. Meanwhile, sound quality is enhanced by SRS WOW technology.
The device plays MP3, WMA (including secure WMA content), and Audible audio file formats, and it is fully compatible with purchased songs and content from leading online sources such as Real's Rhapsody music service, which brings together the largest legal collection of digital music in the world. You can also take advantage of the Audible service, which offers digital audiobooks, audio magazines, newspapers, radio programs, and more.
When playing MP3 files, you can expect 16 hours of continuous playback capacity, or about 240 songs. WMA-format song capacity, offers 32 hours of playback, or approximately 480 songs.
Getting media and music to and from your Sansa e140 is a snap, thanks to a high speed USB 2.0 port that enables fast and easy transfer of files. Additionally, the e140 can also be used as an external storage device for data storage and transfer. The device comes with a sleek carrying case with an armband, and you can expect up to 17 hours continuous playback using the included AAA battery. The Sansa e140 comes with a one-year limited warranty
Sansa e100 series players use PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
What's in the Box Sansa e140 digital audio player, carrying case with armband, stereo earphones, AAA Alkaline battery, USB 2.0 travel cable, quick start guide, and CD-ROM (value-added software/content and user's manual).

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FM Transmitter for Kindle 2 (Includes car power cable for Transmitter) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wondered why this was priced so low and after trying it I can see why. You do get what you pay for in most cases. There were absolutely no instructions for this which I didn't think was a problem, it looked pretty straight-forward to me. I plugged it in to my car, tried adjusting the device to match an "empty" radio frequency and that was the first problem. There are only 4 choices and none of those seemed to be empty. I finally choose one and then plugged in my kindle (also tried my ipod and another mp3 player hoping it would work with something). All I got was static with a faint voice or song, depending on the device but after jiggling the plug a bit, finally had it working. I found I had to turn the radio way up for it to work well and everytime I rounded a corner or hit a bump, I lost the Kindle and the radio or static would blare out and deafen me.

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Now you can listen to your kindle 2 through your car's stereo system. This device transmits audio signals through FM channel. The Transmitter comes with a car power cable so when used in the car you will not need anybatteries. Can also be powered with 2 AAA batteries (sold separately). Features:* Universal Compatibility - 3.5mm cable fits into the headphone jack of all iPods and portable CD and MP3 players * Full Stereo High Clarity sound Radio Play, Plug it in and Listen up * Dual power mode - 2 AA batteries or by included DC adapter * Power light and frequency LED indicator * Operating range: 10-30 feet * Audio frequency range: 50Hz - 15KHz Operating Instructions:1) Plug FM Transmitter into the headphone jack of your MP3 player. 2) Set Transmitter and your car radio to the same frequency. 3) Turn on the Transmitter. 4) Turn on your Kindle.

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Sungale 7IN Touchscreen Wi-fi News Youtube Gmail Weather Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I could not get the wifi to work on several different routers, no support, no email back from the manufacturer,
only a three hour battery life. Save the cash and purchase something else.

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7" hi-resolution LCD screen/Slide show/video/musicAuto link to your home wireless router Auto configuration View and download your photos on internetListen thousands of IP Radio stations on the globalInput Zip code to find real time weather report in your areaRSS to view your favorite and personal YouTube Videos Top ten YouTube programs for your entertainmentDisplay Google news and Yahoo newsGmail watchableTouch screen make you enjoy your operationDigital CalendarAnalogue clock displayUSB Slave for PC to manage your filesBuilt-in battery to support upto 2 hours display1 GB built-in memory

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Avionics Training: Systems, Installation, and Troubleshooting Review

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(More customer reviews)This book purports to cover avionic systems, Installation, and troubleshooting. The "systems" section does a good job of covering the systems it does cover, communications and some navigation systems, and that's about all it does do. It does not cover anything related to the fuel, power, airdata, flight control or other systems of an aircraft that are also part of the "avionic" systems. It is obvious that the author has never worked as an avionics technician and views the "systems" of an aircraft from the point of view of a small aircraft pilot. The Installation section was severely lacking and the one-page "troubleshooting" section was a complete waste of paper as it contained none of the methodolgy used to isolate system problems in today's complex corporate and commercial aircraft. The book should be renamed to more accurately portray what it actually covers; "Comm/Nav systems." The current title is misleading and I was very disappointed with this book, considering its purchase price.

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"Avionics Training" is the first book to explain avionicsin simple terms, with over 400 illustrations in full color. It assumes no knowledge of electronics, uses no math, formulas or confusing abbreviations. The book explains the operation of 30 systems, how they relate to each other, how they're installed and troubleshooting techniques. This is a hands-on book that replaces theory with "hands-on" information. There are chapters on mounting instruments, preparing wires and connectors, running cables, installing antennas and other practical techniques. The booknot only covers conventional avionicsof the last 50 years, but the most recent technology, such as GPS, satellite communications, collision avoidance, the new transponders and electronic flight instruments (EFIS)."Avionics Training"was written because of new directions in the avionics industry. The demand today is for people with a "systems" understanding---which is required to find problems and replace faulty "black boxes." This is in contrast to people skilled in circuit theory who repair small components inside the box. The need for such skills is disappearing becausethe newcomputerized avionics must be sent back to the manufacturer for repair. The result is increasing demand for troubleshooting on the airplane while it's on the flightline, especially asmore electronics spread through almost every onboard system.Already adopted as a text by teaching institutions, this book is recommended for any type of aviationtechnician, pilots, newcomers entering the avionics field, and marketingand manufacturing personnel needing a broader knowledge of the avionics industry.

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iriver CXW-2G Clix 2 GB Digital Music and Video Player, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)*I bought the Clix with the Dock as a complete package from iRiver and this review covers both items*
Packaging
iRiver does a good job with their packaging by making it simple and clean, probably taking note of Apple's packaging strategy, though not as refined. All the included accessories are placed in clearly labeled paper boxes making it simple and easy to find what you need quickly. There is no foam padding of any sort to protect any of the accessories or the player itself but I do not think this will be a problem because the Clix is a flash based player. The Clix itself is protected by a sticker with a printed on animation of the "now playing" screen. There is a "starter kit" that comes with the Clix that contains the manual, quick start guide, software CD, various documentations, and a neoprene case with a screen cleaner. The case fits the player very snugly and is padded enough to ensure proper protection. The screen cleaner does a decent job though I sometimes found that it just smeared the oils from my skin instead of absorbing it.
The packaging for the cradle dock contains a series of boxes as well with no foam padding to protect anything but everything came out of the box in perfect condition. The cradle comes with a line-in cable, 3.5mm extension plug, the dock itself, and an IR remote.
I enjoyed the packaging but it did not wow me as Apple's packaging does. I was concerned with the lack of protection for the components though none of them were damaged. I would like it if iRiver included some plastic molds to hold their components to make it seem more professional while adding some protection at the same time.
Design
The Clix is one of the most beautifully designed MP3 players I have ever seen. The button-less screen creates a very clean and sleek look that resembles a flat panel television. Since there are no buttons to press, navigation is done through pressing the sides of the screen. The sides of the screen are tactile buttons and not touch sensitive, which would have made it too sensitive. The rest of the controls are located on the sides of the player which include dedicated volume buttons, a power button, a "smart key," and a hold switch. The hold switch does not only cease the function of the screen buttons but actually locks the screen buttons into place so they can not be pressed. This is a wise choice by iRiver because it will prevent wear and tear on the buttons. The back of the player is made of glossy white plastic and has a clean look to it instead of having a bunch of Windows, SRS, WOW, and other logos. While the screen of the player seems very scratch resistant, the back seems to be more prone to scratching so users should exercise caution. One of my favorite design features of the Clix is its ability to switch between landscape and portrait modes. Portrait mode is useful in allowing one-handed operation of the player, though it is a little more difficult that I would have liked it to be. Since users have to touch the sides of the player to navigate, they will find their thumbs and hands obstructing their view when pressing some buttons. Though it this is a little annoying, it is bearable and does not take away from the overall pleasurable experience of using the player. Another gripe is that the reset button can only be pressed by inserting a paperclip into a pin-sized hole located at the bottom of the player. Both Creative and iRiver have to find a simpler way to reset the player. I really like the simple button combo that makes the iPod reset itself. Creative and iRiver should take note.
Once in the Cradle Dock, the player will resemble a retro-style television which will draw stares and wow your friends. There are tiny speakers on the back of the dock that allow wireless use of your player. The dock gives the player the awesome feature of line-in recording but also disables an important feature, the FM tuner. I assume this happens because there is no headphone lead to act as an antenna, which would have given the player horrible reception. The dock also lets you connect a line-out cable so you can listen to your music on better speakers and there is a mini-USB connector to allow you to sync your player while it is still in the dock. The included IR remote is the only method of navigating the player while it is in the dock. The remote has a very slim profile and membrane type buttons and while this remote provides excellent functionality for the player while it is in the dock, it is poorly designed because the buttons become a little exhausting after prolonged use and the directional buttons are a bit more spread out than I would have liked. The remote also looks quite cheap with an uneven fit and finish and lack of attention to detail. Perhaps I am being nit-picky but I do enjoy the fact that every function can be accessed wirelessly.
One design feature that I find refreshing is the USB cable that is provided with the player. It has a mechanism that locks the player into place on the cable and can only be unlocked by holding buttons on the side. This results in a secure attachment to your computer, making it impossible to accidentally disconnect your player while it is performing a sync which could wreck the player. More manufacturers should take note of this simple, yet ingenious locking mechanism.
Finally, if you are worried about the durability of Clix, worry no more. I gave this Clix to my sister as a present and she has the reputation of having the "touch of death" with all things electronic. It has been over two weeks and I'm happy to report that the player has not scratched. This is truly an amazing testament to the kind of plastic that iRiver chose to make the Clix's screen with.
Performance
Once I fired up the player for the first time, I was immediately impressed with the fluidity of the interface and how beautifully simplistic, yet sophisticated the menus were laid out. Everything is laid out very logically and can be picked up without reading the instruction manual, which I believe most people do. The GUI reminds me of Windows Media Center, which makes sense because iRiver worked very closely with Microsoft on the development of this player. The "now playing" screen really impresses me in that it uses its screen real estate to deliver tons of information without searching through a sub menu. Song title, album name, song rating, artist name, year of album release, time, battery meter, EQ setting, number of songs in current playlist, and my favorite, next song. More companies should add a "next song" display on their players. Though this may seem like an overwhelming amount of information to be displayed on one screen, I did not find it confusing at all. One thing that bugged me about the interface was the fact that you could not delete songs or recordings from the player.
Pictures are browsed on the player in list form, displaying a small thumbnail of the highlighted picture. Photos look accurate and fluid on the screen as it would on the computer screen though detail is lost because of the 320x240 resolution. There is no over saturation as with other players, namely my Creative Zen Vision: M. Videos can also be played on this device and look good for 15 frames per second (fps). I expected the video experience to be severely degraded compared to the 30fps that my Vision: M is capable of but I am pleasantly surprised that there was minimal difference. Music videos looked great and the screen provided excellent viewing angles. I would advise against watching anything longer than a few minutes on the Clix because of two reasons: one being that the screen is so small and will fatigue your eyes and two being the fact that the player maxes out at a dainty 2 GB.
My favorite feature about the Clix is its ability to record in several different ways. There is FM recording which is very handy for catching shows or songs you want to save, thought the RIAA will not be happy about the latter. You can also perform voice recordings and line-in recordings. Voice recordings were of average quality and had a hard time picking up sounds that were far away. I would not use the Clix to record lectures or conferences though it is a handy tool for taking notes or to do a casual podcast. Line-in recording provided much more of a use because of its excellent recording quality. If set at "high" recording quality, files are encoded at 256kbps MP3s and 128kbps at "medium" quality. Recording whole albums is a simple process though editing the file names and ID3 tags of the songs is not as fun or pleasurable. I did encounter a few problems when recording, one of which was the recording volume. Even when set at the highest recording volume and max volume from the recording source (my ZVM) the volume of the recorded tracks was still lower than I would have liked them to be. Another problem I encountered was the track splitting function which breaks up the recording when it doesn't sense any sound for 2 seconds. For classical albums, it could not sense the gaps correctly and recorded the album as one huge MP3. My final gripe about the line-in recording function is that the recordings are stored deep in the submenus of the "Extras" section which is irritating when you want to find your recordings and listen to them since they are not included in your library. Hopefully a firmware update will place a folder in the music library for recordings.
With all of these extra features, it is easy to forget what the Clix was designed to do and that is to play music and boy does the Clix deliver. This is one of the best sounding MP3 players I have ever heard. There is also an incredible amount of adjustability with this player. Users can choose from a...Read more›

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The iRiver Clix features an eye-catching, direct-click interface that makes it easy to fly through your media collection and find the right song, video, photo, or video game. The unit is centered around a vivid 2.2-inch color LCD display, which delivers remarkably clear 320 x 240 (QVGA) resolution for watching videos and playing flash-based games. With support for MP3, WMA, ASF, Ogg, JPEG, MPEG-4, and Flash Lite 1.1 files, users can choose from a ton of other audio and video formats. The iRiver Clix even works with Windows Media Player 10 and its variety of affiliated online music stores and subscription services, including PlaysForSure services such as Napster and Rhapsody.
Measuring just 2.7 by 1.8 by 0.6 inches and weighing a mere 2.5 ounces, the Clix is about the size of a business card. But don't be fooled, as the unit features 2 GB of internal flash memory, which is capable of storing approximately 32 hours of CD-quality MP3 music (encoded at 128 kbps) or 64 hours of WMA tracks (at 64 kbps). The Clix also plays MPEG-4 Simple Profile (SP) files at a maximum of 384 kbps and 15 frames per second, with audio encoded in MP3 format. Should you need to convert other formats to MPEG-4, simply download the free iRiverter utility and you're set.
The display also doubles as the control interface, so you don't have to mess with any cumbersome buttons or controls. And unlike the touchscreens normally found on PDAs, the Clix's direct-click feature responds to gentle fingertip pressure, eliminating the need for pens or control keys.
Meanwhile, a built-in microphone makes the iRiver Clix an ultracompact dictation machine. The recording quality is freely selectable and is controlled automatically. And listeners who hate to miss their favorite public radio program will dig the built-in FM tuner. Finally, the unit comes with several free Flash Lite games, including Launch Fighters (a Space Invaders remake, Log Jam, Barn Baron, and Sudoku.
Audio-wise, the Clix offers 10 EQ settings along, a user-defined EQ option, and SRS WOW virtual surround sound, which creates a 3-D soundscape and a superior bass performance. In addition, the Clix, which is compatible with Windows XP operating systems (SP1), sports a fast USB 2.0 interface for speedy file transfers. The device comes with a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that delivers up to 25 hours of battery life per charge and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box iRiver Clix media player, earphones, carrying case with screen cleaner, USB 2.0 cable, Easy Start installation CD, user's manual.

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Zune 8 GB Video MP3 Player, Refurbished (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the refurbished Zune 8 for $77. The price may have changed after I posted this review.
PROS
[+] Well-built, all parts are scratch-resistant including the glass and plastic
[+] Sturdy build and flash memory make this drop-resistant even without a case
[+] The touch-sensitive Zune Pad interface is intuitive and fun to use, like a laptop pad that you can click and flick
[+] The screen is crystal-clear, videos and pictures are very sharp
[+] FM radio offers good reception through the earphone "antennas"
[+] Good battery life, just charge once or twice a week with normal use
[+] Supports Zune Pass (14 day free trial available for everyone, regardless of whether you own a Zune)
[+] Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to download and stream songs with a Zune Pass
[+] Free yearly firmware upgrades from Microsoft with new features
[+] Excellent price
NEUTRAL
[*] Normal resolution (240x320)
[*] Average amount of storage space (8 GB)
[*] Includes stock earphones, which are of average quality but can be magnetically attached for convenience
CONS
[-] Small screen (1.8 inches diagonally)
[-] Windows only, but free software Songbird can give limited support for Zune on Mac and Linux
[-] Wi-Fi features drain battery quickly
This Zune was much smaller than I had originally expected-- I never realized how small 1.8 inches really was for the screen. On the other hand, it's remarkably small and thin, and very sturdy for its size. You won't need a case to protect this, since the glass, plastic, and metal are too hard to be scratched in casual use. You don't even have to worry about dropping this, since there's no hard drive involved, which means that the Zune will, in almost all situations, continue to work properly.
One of the main perks for the Zune, compared to the alternatives, is support for the Zune Software. Although it is Windows-only, the Zune Software has a very easy-to-use and nice-looking interface, and has features like Mixview, which suggest new music depending on the history of music you listened to. Also, the Zune is compatible with the Zune Pass, which is a subscription service that gives you access to all of Zune's music library for $15 per month. If you buy songs on a regular basis, this is definitely worth a look. Also, Microsoft rolls out yearly firmware upgrades to all Zune models, so it's like getting a new Zune annually for no charge.
Please note that while the Wi-Fi features are pretty nice (especially for such an affordable MP3 player), you will drain the batter much faster while you are using these features. Turning on wireless already speeds up battery drain, but downloading or streaming music, while potentially handy if you are in a place with Wi-Fi, can make your battery run out 10 times as quickly! Use Wi-Fi in moderation unless you don't want enough battery power to listen to music or watch movies later.
Even though this is refurbished and Amazon said that the product may have "cosmetic imperfections," the only thing I noticed was a tiny dent in the plastic at the border of the glass. It's not easy to spot, and not nearly as obvious as the numerous scratches I've seen on the screens and surfaces of some other MP3 players. This purchase has confirmed for me that buying refurbished is a great way to save money on a good product without sacrificing much at all. You even get the same warranty, so the only real difference is not being able to claim that your product is new (which is certainly worth saving $50 for).
As a device that I use to listen to music on (through downloaded songs or radio) and watch videos on, the refurbished Zune 8 is a steal at under $80.

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This slim 8 GB Zune device is good to go with plenty of room for your favorite music, pictures, and video. It comes complete with a built-in FM tuner and buy-from-FM capabilities, wireless sync, Zune-to-Zune wireless sharing, video playback, and more--so you get all that Zune power in one tight little package. It holds up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video. Watch a demo on Zune. NOTE: This product has been refurbished to its original specifications for electrical performance. Unit may contain cosmetic imperfections. Consumer warranty for refurbished devices is one year.

Buy from FMClick to buy from the built-in FM radio. Every Zune device lets you listen to your favorite FM radio stations and click to tag the songs you like for later purchase when you sync your device with your PC.1
Zune Pass With the Zune Pass subscription service, you'll get millions of tracks for the price of one CD. Download tracks, whole albums, or playlists. Explore new music or rediscover old favorites--then sync them to your Zune. Extend your subscription online or by purchasing a Zune Pass card. Or, if you like, purchase songs or albums individually.2
Wireless Sync Remotely sync with your PC. Connect to your home wireless network and remotely sync your Zune device with your PC collection from your dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory.3
Device to Cloud Your Zune player can access thousands of wireless hotspots around the country. Automatically update your collection, browse Zune Marketplace, refresh your Channels, exchange favorites with friends, or buy songs you've tagged from your FM radio. Take advantage of a Zune Pass and access the music you love where you want, at no extra cost.
Wireless Sharing Music is in the air with Zune wireless sharing. Send your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts freely between any Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times and pass them along to other friends. If you want to buy a song, click to tag it and have your Zune find it later when you sync with your PC.4
Channels Like your very own radio stations, Zune Channels are custom programming stations that deliver personalized playlists to your Zune from a variety of sources you select, such as music experts, celebrities, or top radio stations. Channels you subscribe to automatically update whenever you're connected--to your PC, home network, or even selected wireless hotspots. When you subscribe to Zune Pass, you get an unlimited Zune Channels experience.
Games Zune players now come with a selection of fun free games. Choose music from your collection to create your own personal game soundtrack. Connect and compete wirelessly with other nearby Zune users.
Video/TV ShowsChoose from a growing selection of TV shows now available on the Zune Marketplace video store, and take your favorite episodes or whole seasons with you wherever you go. Use your Zune device to watch popular shows like The Office, South Park, Heroes, and 30 Rock from NBC; shows from Comedy Central; Adult Swim from the Cartoon Network; and countless other shows from other major networks.6 Also, if you're recording TV shows or movies with Windows Media Center in Windows Vista, you can import and sync them to your device. Load up your favorite videos, and hit the road.5
Zune SocialDiscover, share, and connect with the Zune Social, a free online community that lets you share your musical tastes with friends and millions others. Customize your Zune Card and Zune profile page with your favorite music and pictures. Then connect and share Zune Cards, music, and messages with friends and other members of the community.
Zune MarketplaceFulfill your entertainment desires at Zune Marketplace. Millions of songs, albums, TV shows, audio/video podcasts, and more are available--plus, your online store is always open and only a mouse click away. Download or subscription? It's up to you. Buy individual songs and albums, or an unlimited Zune Pass music subscription2.
AudiobooksLet your Zune read to you while you can't. Listen to everything from your favorite novels to the latest bestseller. Now you can transfer your existing audiobook files from sites like Audible.com to your Zune device and enjoy them whenever you want.
Xbox 360 CompatibilityEver wish you could play games to the sound of your favorite tunes? Now you can. Connect your Zune device to your Xbox 360 console and play your favorite songs while you game on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE. You can share content from your Zune collection to an Xbox 360 console on a home network and play your media through the Xbox Dashboard.
Accessories Traveling, working late, or working out? Whatever you're up to, your Zune will be right there with you. Make sure you have the best accessories to keep up with your lifestyle.
Zune AC Adapter: Fast recharge wherever there's an outlet
Zune Car Pack: Ride with Zune as it charges while playing in your car
Zune Home AV Pack: Hook up your Zune to any home stereo and control it via remote
Zune Premium Earphones: noise-isolating design that delivers superior sound quality and comfort
Zune Cable Pack: Provides every cable you need to stay connected
Zune Dock Pack: Nonstop your tunes while you charge your Zune
Zune Leather Case: Protects your Zune with style

Legal Disclaimers:1. Buy from FM feature available with stations broadcasting RDS and RT Plus data2. Zune Pass is a monthly music subscription service; some songs are not available via Zune Pass. Available Zune Pass content may vary over time.3. Wireless sync feature requires access to a home wireless network 4. Zune to Zune wireless sharing may not be available for all songs in your music collection and works only between Zune devices within wireless range of each other. Recipients may play full-length sample tracks up to three times.5. Requires a PC running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate and an integrated or external TV tuner.6. Available content may vary over time.
What's in the Box?Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player (Black), earphones with three earpiece covers, Sync cable

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Low Profile Amateur Radio: Operating a Ham Station from Almost Anywhere (The Radio Amateur's Library ; Publication No. 167) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)While I've never reviewed books put out by the ARRL, and Jim Kearman-kr1s before, the only thing I can say is this, "It's About Time" this very excellent book was done justice. Like most "League" publications, it makes a very excellent book for a beginning ham, or a veteran of the tubes and wires, over fancy circuits. Whatever the case, I can say as a very proud ham, myself, that if you're on a budget, READ THIS BOOK FIRST! Not only will you enjoy reading this book, (it's plain fun) it will also give you ideas. Certainly,as far as reference books go, a copy belongs in everyone's library!

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Sony NAS-CZ1 Network Audio Player and Shelf System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This Network Audio Player has outstanding sound, and easily fits on my bookshelf. The black and silver case design is a huge improvement over the cheap plastic look of many bookshelf systems sold today.
One of the best features is the ability of the unit to play music stored on your computer hard drive. From my existing music library that I created using Windows Media Player, the NAS-CZ1 plays the music one song after another, album by album. You can also create playlists if you want selected songs.
The challenge is to get the software and the NAS-CZ1 configured. I would say that this is a project for someone with some hands-on home networking skills, as I wanted a wireless setup. Since the NAS-CZ1 requires an Ethernet cable, I used a Linksys wap54 wireless access point to connect to my home wireless network.
All the internet features are provided through the Sony software called m-crew server. There is very little documentation on this software, even when I looked using Google. It is also version 1.0 and there apparently are no updates to the software that comes on the cd with the unit. M-Crew server is a very straightforward, no-frills solution to broadcasting music to the NAS-CZ1. There are a few things about it though. First, you need to use some version of Windows XP. Windows 2000,2003, 98, etc. will not work and the installer on the cd will stop you from proceeding. So you must have an XP computer that is on whenever you want to listen to music stored on your hard disk. This means that when I want to fall asleep to the music, I need to leave my computer running.
You need to remember that the account you installed the m-crew server software needs to be logged in. This is because the software runs background processes that won't be started until the account user logs in. Not a problem if you have a single user account login on the computer and the computer is re-booted for some reason, but I will have to look at setting up the computer to automatically startup the software background services when the computer re-boots. I found this out when Microsoft rebooted my pc for one of their automatic software updates. The connection from my NAS-CZ1 just stopped working until I re-logged into the account again.
One other problem with the m-crew server software or possibly the NAS-CZ1 is that you cannot have songs with titles using Asian characters. So any Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. songs will not play on the NAS-CZ1. In fact, the m-crew server software will let you store a say, Chinese titled song just fine. The problem arises when the NAS-CZ1 tries to play it. It will error out and you need to skip the song and restart the player manually. To delete the song, you need to (and they don't tell you this in the documentation) edit the m-crew server content database table using MS Access to delete the row containing the song, or edit out the Asian characters and you can then play the song. It seems that the NAS-CZ1 only has the ability to display english characters and that is why it errors on non-english titles. You would think that an international company like Sony would release product that accommodates languages other than english character based items.
If all else fails with the m-crew server software, uninstall and install it again.
Internet radio is another interesting feature that, if you can get running, sounds really nice. First, choose internet radio stations with a bit rate of no less than 32k, for decent sound. Second, forget about any radio stations that use their own radio player (do not use Windows media player), or require Real Player. If the radio station url does not end with an "aspx", then you can be pretty sure it won't work on the NAS-CZ1. Sony provides about 10 sample stations for the NAS-CZ1, but does not tell you how to find more radio stations. So the problems is finding internet radio sations and testing them to see if they work on the NAS-CZ1. Time consuming at best, and I have not tried searching for more stations outside of my initial setup effort of the NAS-CZ1.
At this time, I am impressed with the technology that Sony put into this unit, but I can also see a lot of buyers looking for a quick and easy way of listening to music on their computer hard dirve returning this unit due to the complicated setup and troubleshooting needed. I bought my NAS-CZ1 at Fry's for $189 and it was their last boxed unit, that was a return.
Personally, I like the unit and now that I have figured out the limitations and quirks, I'm considering a second unit for my home office. It is a real delight to be able to have my entire music collection available without having to manually change cds.

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Network Music Player

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